Things Change
Chapter 2
by Mariye
======
Disclaimer: I don't own FF8 or its characters.
======
Zell paced back and forth in the elevator.
~Damn it why can't this thing move faster?~
As it moved down past the second floor he heard the bell for the passing period before the next class ring. He raised his head but didn't pay it any real attention.
~Like I'm actually gonna go to my next class. Please. I could have a deadly disease. I doubt learning about battle techniques would help me any.~
The elevator came to a stop and he ran out, knocking down a pair of junior cadets as he did.
~I just need someone to talk to. Someone who'll tell me that Dr. Kadowaki is stupid and I don't have cancer...~ He stopped in front of the directory and looked around. ~Who...?~
"Zell! Zell! You promised you'd go to your room and rest!"
Zell looked around quickly. Irvine and Selphie were walking towards him.
~Not them... they'll ask too many questions. I just need to get away!~ He quickly ran off, not thinking, only wanting to get lost in the crowd of students that were filling the hall.
"Zell!" He heard Irvine call out. But now he was surrounded by the mass of Garden students. All together. All happy and healthy. Living normal lives.
It was then that he ran into one of them.
"Ouch. Oh, Zell! I... I wanted to talk to you."
"Libby. I'm sorry. Here, let me help you." Zell extended a hand to his girlfriend, Libby, who was a member of the library committee.
"Oh, you're sick... I'll tell you later." Her friend who was walking with her nudged her in the ribs.
"You've been putting this off for weeks... Just tell him."
"I dunno..."
"Tell me what?" Zell looked from girl to girl.
"... We can talk later. Bye!" Libby and her friend tried to walk away. Zell grabbed her arm.
"Can we talk now? I need someone to talk to now. Its important."
"I have class..." Zell looked at her oddly.
~Back when we first started dating she would ask me to ditch classes so she'd have someone to talk to in the library all the time. And most of the time I'd do it.~
"Its important. And you owe me... remember?"
Libby stopped for a second. She looked down.
"Fine." She finally whispered. "Its better I get this over with quickly."
"Don't talk like that. I'll start thinking you're breaking up with me." Zell said lightly, trying to make her smile.
She didn't smile.
She stopped walking, causing the other students to all have to walk around her. All of them grumbling about how inconsiderate people could be and how there should be no stopping during passing periods.
"Libby... You're not breaking up with me.... are you?"
~Hyne not now...~ Zell thought as she ran a hand back and adjusted her pigtail.
"I... I'm sorry I waited so long to tell you... Its just... there's this guy..."
"You're leaving me for another guy?!?! You're cheating on me?!?!" Zell yelled in confusion and anger.
~Sure, I knew we were going through some rough spots, and we haven't talked as much lately, but this?!?!~
"We... we've grown apart... This one SeeD who comes in the library a lot, Gregg... he joined the committee and... well... I'm sorry Zell. You'll find someone someday..." She quickly turned and started to walk off. Zell grabbed her arm.
"Zell?"
"You can't do this to me! Not now! Please!"
"Zell, I have to go to my next class! Just let it go..." She pulled her arm free and ran down the hall.
~Damn it all to hell!~ Zell turned around and kicked the closest inanimate object. A steel garbage can. As the crunch echoed though the halls, all of the students turned to see Zell kick the can once more, then run off.
~How can she! I need her! I need someone! I can't take this!~
He turned and ran into the training center.
"Zell? Are you okay?"
"Zell! Stop!"
He heard Selphie and Irvine's voices.
~No. Why can't they just ignore me!~ As he ran into the main complex, he heard the bell signalling the beginning of the next class. He paused for a second and looked back. ~Will they follow?~ He stopped.
~Do I want them to follow me?~ He debated back and forth in his mind if they were the kind of people he wanted knowing about his newfound secret.
~Would they care enough to? My girlfriend, ex-girlfriend, obviously didn't care enough to skip one class for me... would two of my friends who I'm not even that close to do something like that for me?~ Zell made up his mind and ran deeper into the center. He chose to ignore the sounds of two pairs of feet running in as the door closed behind him.
~Why?~ He ran through, only stopping momentarily when some poor group of Grats dared cross his path and he had to decimate them.
~I never did anything to deserve this! I always wanted to help people! Protect people!~ He finally reached the last forested spot before the entrance to the 'secret spot.' He pushed aside some branches that were blocking the way across the bridge. He yanked them off the tree and pushed forward. Small twigs scratched his arms.
~Its all a lie. It all has to be a lie...~ He finally half fell into the small hidden balcony. He stumbled over to the ledge. He looked up at the sky, half on his knees.
"Why me? Out of all the people in this world Hyne why did it have to be me?!?!?!~ He screamed up at the unfeeling sky. He grasped tightly onto the railing and pulled himself up.
"I don't know... I honestly don't know why it had to be you."
Zell's head shot up in surprise. He turned to look behind him.
"Matron?" He said weakly. She walked toward him, her purple dress barely moving.
"I... I wish I could change everything. Remember when you were only 4? I know you probably don't, but then..." Her voiced started to fail her. She cleared her throat and tried again. "Then whenever you'd come in crying about a little cut or scrape... all I'd have to do is pick you up and give you a band aid and... and... and give you a cookie and suddenly everything would be alright. No matter what happened... to you I was a miracle worker... because whenever I did that, you always said it healed everything and made it all better."
"Only the blue mini-mog band aids though..." Zell said, surprised he actually remembered.
She stood next to him now, and put her arm around him.
"Hyne I wish I still had that power. I wish I could just get a band aid and make this all better."
"Is it a mistake?" Zell looked at her. His eyes pleading for her to lie to him.
"It is. Its a mistake for Hyne to give a young man like you a disease like this." She saw him start to look down, almost at the point of crying. She put her arms around him and held him.
"I'm scared...."
"My little Zell.... always trying to do what's right...." As he started to kneel down she kept holding him, and knelt down next to him. ".... You always tried to help everyone... even if it earned you the name Crybaby.... or Chicken-Wuss... Always trying to be a part of the crowd... trying to be noticed... trying to be accepted...." She knelt her head on his shoulder.
"Matron.... Libby.... she broke up with me.... She wouldn't even.... even talk to me."
Edea raised her head and looked Zell in the eyes.
"You know that if someone would even think about treating you like that, then she doesn't deserve to be with you. You can do better than her Zell."
"But.... I don't want... I don't wanna be alone Matron..."
"You're not." Edea pushed some of Zell's hair out of his face and looked him in the eyes.
"You will never be alone."
Zell sniffled a little, and started to rise. Edea got up quicker though, and held her hand out to him. He took it gently, and she helped him up.
"Are you alright?" She noticed how long it took him to get up.
"Fine... I'm just a little sore..."
"Zell? Are you alright?" Selphie walked into the Secret Area. "Irvine! I found him! And Edea's with him!" Selphie yelled as she turned to face look out of the Secret Area.
"Do you want them to know?" Edea whispered.
~Do I?~ Zell watched as Irvine walked in holding his ears.
"Selphie, I was right outside!"
"Sorry.... I didn't know."
"Sure."
"Really!" She turned to look at Zell. She suddenly looked all worried. "Is something wrong? What's going on?"
Zell looked at Edea and slightly shook his head. "Nothing... Libby just broke up with me and I took it a little hard at first I guess.
"You sure?" Irvine looked at Zell closely. Edea nodded.
"Yes, that's all Irvine. Aren't you two supposed to be in class?"
"Well... we saw Zell attack that garbage can and we were worried..." Selphie said. Edea smiled.
"I'll see about clearing you. Now run along." Selphie and Irvine nodded and walked out. She turned to Zell.
"I know. Eventually I'll tell all of them." Zell said as he sighed.
"First you really should go and see Dr. Kadowaki though... you didn't hear everything. There's a lot you need to know. Especially about treatment..."
"I know. I will."
"Promise me." Edea looked at him. "I've known you since you were three years old.... and... I'm scared too. I don't want to lose you. You're one of my children Zell."
Zell looked down at the ground and nodded his head slightly.
"I'll go now."
"Alright... don't worry about classes or anything. I'll take care of that."
======
What can be worse than finding out you have Leukemia? Finding out the person you love and think will be there for you won't. Don't worry, things will get a little better from here on out.
Also, I'm keeping the chapters kind of short, because I know sometimes people avoid stories if they see the story is too many kb.
Next chapter: Zell hears the full story about his cancer...
Chapter 2
by Mariye
======
Disclaimer: I don't own FF8 or its characters.
======
Zell paced back and forth in the elevator.
~Damn it why can't this thing move faster?~
As it moved down past the second floor he heard the bell for the passing period before the next class ring. He raised his head but didn't pay it any real attention.
~Like I'm actually gonna go to my next class. Please. I could have a deadly disease. I doubt learning about battle techniques would help me any.~
The elevator came to a stop and he ran out, knocking down a pair of junior cadets as he did.
~I just need someone to talk to. Someone who'll tell me that Dr. Kadowaki is stupid and I don't have cancer...~ He stopped in front of the directory and looked around. ~Who...?~
"Zell! Zell! You promised you'd go to your room and rest!"
Zell looked around quickly. Irvine and Selphie were walking towards him.
~Not them... they'll ask too many questions. I just need to get away!~ He quickly ran off, not thinking, only wanting to get lost in the crowd of students that were filling the hall.
"Zell!" He heard Irvine call out. But now he was surrounded by the mass of Garden students. All together. All happy and healthy. Living normal lives.
It was then that he ran into one of them.
"Ouch. Oh, Zell! I... I wanted to talk to you."
"Libby. I'm sorry. Here, let me help you." Zell extended a hand to his girlfriend, Libby, who was a member of the library committee.
"Oh, you're sick... I'll tell you later." Her friend who was walking with her nudged her in the ribs.
"You've been putting this off for weeks... Just tell him."
"I dunno..."
"Tell me what?" Zell looked from girl to girl.
"... We can talk later. Bye!" Libby and her friend tried to walk away. Zell grabbed her arm.
"Can we talk now? I need someone to talk to now. Its important."
"I have class..." Zell looked at her oddly.
~Back when we first started dating she would ask me to ditch classes so she'd have someone to talk to in the library all the time. And most of the time I'd do it.~
"Its important. And you owe me... remember?"
Libby stopped for a second. She looked down.
"Fine." She finally whispered. "Its better I get this over with quickly."
"Don't talk like that. I'll start thinking you're breaking up with me." Zell said lightly, trying to make her smile.
She didn't smile.
She stopped walking, causing the other students to all have to walk around her. All of them grumbling about how inconsiderate people could be and how there should be no stopping during passing periods.
"Libby... You're not breaking up with me.... are you?"
~Hyne not now...~ Zell thought as she ran a hand back and adjusted her pigtail.
"I... I'm sorry I waited so long to tell you... Its just... there's this guy..."
"You're leaving me for another guy?!?! You're cheating on me?!?!" Zell yelled in confusion and anger.
~Sure, I knew we were going through some rough spots, and we haven't talked as much lately, but this?!?!~
"We... we've grown apart... This one SeeD who comes in the library a lot, Gregg... he joined the committee and... well... I'm sorry Zell. You'll find someone someday..." She quickly turned and started to walk off. Zell grabbed her arm.
"Zell?"
"You can't do this to me! Not now! Please!"
"Zell, I have to go to my next class! Just let it go..." She pulled her arm free and ran down the hall.
~Damn it all to hell!~ Zell turned around and kicked the closest inanimate object. A steel garbage can. As the crunch echoed though the halls, all of the students turned to see Zell kick the can once more, then run off.
~How can she! I need her! I need someone! I can't take this!~
He turned and ran into the training center.
"Zell? Are you okay?"
"Zell! Stop!"
He heard Selphie and Irvine's voices.
~No. Why can't they just ignore me!~ As he ran into the main complex, he heard the bell signalling the beginning of the next class. He paused for a second and looked back. ~Will they follow?~ He stopped.
~Do I want them to follow me?~ He debated back and forth in his mind if they were the kind of people he wanted knowing about his newfound secret.
~Would they care enough to? My girlfriend, ex-girlfriend, obviously didn't care enough to skip one class for me... would two of my friends who I'm not even that close to do something like that for me?~ Zell made up his mind and ran deeper into the center. He chose to ignore the sounds of two pairs of feet running in as the door closed behind him.
~Why?~ He ran through, only stopping momentarily when some poor group of Grats dared cross his path and he had to decimate them.
~I never did anything to deserve this! I always wanted to help people! Protect people!~ He finally reached the last forested spot before the entrance to the 'secret spot.' He pushed aside some branches that were blocking the way across the bridge. He yanked them off the tree and pushed forward. Small twigs scratched his arms.
~Its all a lie. It all has to be a lie...~ He finally half fell into the small hidden balcony. He stumbled over to the ledge. He looked up at the sky, half on his knees.
"Why me? Out of all the people in this world Hyne why did it have to be me?!?!?!~ He screamed up at the unfeeling sky. He grasped tightly onto the railing and pulled himself up.
"I don't know... I honestly don't know why it had to be you."
Zell's head shot up in surprise. He turned to look behind him.
"Matron?" He said weakly. She walked toward him, her purple dress barely moving.
"I... I wish I could change everything. Remember when you were only 4? I know you probably don't, but then..." Her voiced started to fail her. She cleared her throat and tried again. "Then whenever you'd come in crying about a little cut or scrape... all I'd have to do is pick you up and give you a band aid and... and... and give you a cookie and suddenly everything would be alright. No matter what happened... to you I was a miracle worker... because whenever I did that, you always said it healed everything and made it all better."
"Only the blue mini-mog band aids though..." Zell said, surprised he actually remembered.
She stood next to him now, and put her arm around him.
"Hyne I wish I still had that power. I wish I could just get a band aid and make this all better."
"Is it a mistake?" Zell looked at her. His eyes pleading for her to lie to him.
"It is. Its a mistake for Hyne to give a young man like you a disease like this." She saw him start to look down, almost at the point of crying. She put her arms around him and held him.
"I'm scared...."
"My little Zell.... always trying to do what's right...." As he started to kneel down she kept holding him, and knelt down next to him. ".... You always tried to help everyone... even if it earned you the name Crybaby.... or Chicken-Wuss... Always trying to be a part of the crowd... trying to be noticed... trying to be accepted...." She knelt her head on his shoulder.
"Matron.... Libby.... she broke up with me.... She wouldn't even.... even talk to me."
Edea raised her head and looked Zell in the eyes.
"You know that if someone would even think about treating you like that, then she doesn't deserve to be with you. You can do better than her Zell."
"But.... I don't want... I don't wanna be alone Matron..."
"You're not." Edea pushed some of Zell's hair out of his face and looked him in the eyes.
"You will never be alone."
Zell sniffled a little, and started to rise. Edea got up quicker though, and held her hand out to him. He took it gently, and she helped him up.
"Are you alright?" She noticed how long it took him to get up.
"Fine... I'm just a little sore..."
"Zell? Are you alright?" Selphie walked into the Secret Area. "Irvine! I found him! And Edea's with him!" Selphie yelled as she turned to face look out of the Secret Area.
"Do you want them to know?" Edea whispered.
~Do I?~ Zell watched as Irvine walked in holding his ears.
"Selphie, I was right outside!"
"Sorry.... I didn't know."
"Sure."
"Really!" She turned to look at Zell. She suddenly looked all worried. "Is something wrong? What's going on?"
Zell looked at Edea and slightly shook his head. "Nothing... Libby just broke up with me and I took it a little hard at first I guess.
"You sure?" Irvine looked at Zell closely. Edea nodded.
"Yes, that's all Irvine. Aren't you two supposed to be in class?"
"Well... we saw Zell attack that garbage can and we were worried..." Selphie said. Edea smiled.
"I'll see about clearing you. Now run along." Selphie and Irvine nodded and walked out. She turned to Zell.
"I know. Eventually I'll tell all of them." Zell said as he sighed.
"First you really should go and see Dr. Kadowaki though... you didn't hear everything. There's a lot you need to know. Especially about treatment..."
"I know. I will."
"Promise me." Edea looked at him. "I've known you since you were three years old.... and... I'm scared too. I don't want to lose you. You're one of my children Zell."
Zell looked down at the ground and nodded his head slightly.
"I'll go now."
"Alright... don't worry about classes or anything. I'll take care of that."
======
What can be worse than finding out you have Leukemia? Finding out the person you love and think will be there for you won't. Don't worry, things will get a little better from here on out.
Also, I'm keeping the chapters kind of short, because I know sometimes people avoid stories if they see the story is too many kb.
Next chapter: Zell hears the full story about his cancer...